8 2 4 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
DEC i 4 
THE 
RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
(34 Park Row, New York), 
A National Journal for Country and Suburban 
Homes. 
Conducted by 
ELBERT S. CARMAN. 
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1889. 
NOTICE. 
T he rural new-York¬ 
er is invariably discon¬ 
tinued at the end of the term 
subscribed for. Any copies sent 
to non-subscribers are sent with¬ 
out charge as specimens merely. 
Our readers will greatly oblige 
us if, when answering advertise¬ 
ments in the R, N.-Y., they state 
where the advertisements were 
seen. We like to have our ad¬ 
vertising patrons know how 
much business we send them. It 
is well known that the R. N.-Y. 
looks after the interests of its 
readers, consequently those who 
declare themselves R. N.-Y. read¬ 
ers are sure to receive prompt 
and courteous treatment. 
The report of the National Women’s 
Potato Contest will be published next 
week. Over 200 souvenirs will then 
be awarded. Many of the contes¬ 
tants wish copies of the paper sent to 
their friends. Send lists of names at 
once and the R. N.-Y. will have 
t. 1 e papers mailed. 
I ie Rural New-Yorker clubs with 
the Weekly New York World or with 
the Weekly Chicago Times one year 
for $2.25. 
With the Chicago Inter-Ocean, or 
Detroit Free Press, one year, $2.50. 
With the Century $5.50; or with 
Harper’s one year, $5. 
Club prices with any other publica¬ 
tion will be furnished on application. 
Shall we take the last Proceedings 
of the American Pomological Society 
co guide us as to the most popular kinds 
of strawberries—those having the 
most double-stars ? If so, the Wilson 
stands first, Charles Downing second, 
Sharpless third, Cumberland fourth, 
Miner fifth, Triomphe de Gand sixth. 
Kentucky receives the highest num¬ 
ber of single-stars. 
It is well the public should be 
guarded in their dealings with Mr. 
Alfred Rose of Penn Yan, N. Y. It 
was he who by letters and in his cir¬ 
culars claimed that the R. N.-Y. No. 
2 Potato was in reality a variety which 
he originated, refusing to recall these 
statements or insinuations until late in 
spring when, having effected all the 
sales possible, and under the threat of 
prosecution, he confessed they were 
different. 
Prof. Wm. Saunders of the Cen¬ 
tral Experiment Farm of Ottawa, 
Canada, writes that his crosses be¬ 
tween the blackberry and raspberry 
were so unpromising that he has lost 
all interest in them. The R. N.-Y.’s 
hybrids, judging by those that have 
fruited, are equally unpromising, but 
we have not lost all interest in them. 
It is proposed fco raise seedlings from 
these hybrids, selecting seed from 
those that resemble both parents. 
One result of the R. N.-Y.’s investi¬ 
gations as to the cost of farm life is 
shown in the following note from a 
Massachusetts farmer: 
“ I can give no estimate on fa mil y 
expenses for this year, as our whole 
trade has been done by the exchange 
of farm produce at the different stores. 
I shall be able to give an account 
another year, as I propose to know at 
the close of next year what the farm 
has done.” 
We find the latest illustration of this 
in the Paterson market where most of 
our eggs are sold. Up to this year 
white eggs were in highest demand. 
People seemed to believe that a 
brown shell was an indication of a 
stale egg—that is, the older the egg the 
browner the shell. This year many 
customers want the brown eggs and 
ask the privilege of picking them out. 
This may seem like a simple thing, 
but it means a good deal to some of 
our farmers who have kept Leghorn 
fowls because the market demanded a 
white egg. With this “color line” 
broken down, there is likely to be a 
change of breeeds not to the disad¬ 
vantage of the farmer. Brahma, 
Wyandotte and Plymouth Rock birds 
will now give, to most of our farmers, 
better satisfaction. 
over his diseased and dying trees is 
utterly at a loss to account for the 
trouble.” 
And again, in a subsequent letter 
this same writer says: “ I do not wish 
to recommend potash manures exclu¬ 
sively—far from it. This would sim¬ 
ply be an error in the opposite direc¬ 
tion—less disastrous perhaps than the 
other, in our conditions of soil and 
climate, but still an error and to be 
studiously avoided.” 
This means, if it means anything, 
that while a fertilizer rich in potash is 
necessary in the production of the 
orange crop, one-sided fertilizers, con¬ 
taining an excess of any one in¬ 
gredient, particularly nitrogen or 
phosphoric acid, are harmful ' in the 
end. 
FLORIDA ORANGE TRADE. A WORD TO OUR READERS. 
TTTE are told that the Florida 
it orange crop promises to be 
light this year. In spite of this, sales 
just now are very unsatisfactory to 
both shippers and sellers. The mar¬ 
ket has been simply stuffed with fruit 
which sold at as low a figure as has 
probably ever been known for fruit of 
good appearance and condition. 
The main fault seems to be in the 
shipping arrangements. But little ac¬ 
count seems to be made of the quan¬ 
tity needed to supply the market. 
Shippers should study the market de¬ 
mands and not crowd so much fruit 
upon us at once. So far as it has ex¬ 
amined into the matter, the R. N.-Y. 
is greatly pleased with the auction 
system of selling fruits which is spok¬ 
en of on page 828. We see little rea¬ 
son why more Florida fruits should 
not be handled in this way. 
Another complaint made by sellers 
here is an old one. 4 ‘ Growers must 
learn to pack and grade their fruit 
more carefully before much better 
prices will rule and before a generally 
better market will prevail. There is 
much complaint because of the great 
irregularity of the quality of every 
brand of fruit. ” Thus writes a dealer 
of long experience. What do the 
orange growers propose to do about it? 
TheR. N.-Y. is greatly interested in 
the Florida orange and truck busi¬ 
ness. It wants to see them both suc¬ 
ceed. It would much prefer to see the 
fruit markets reserved for the pro¬ 
ducts of American soil. We snail 
have more to say about Florida pro¬ 
ducts hereafter, particular attention 
being given to the best arrangements 
for packing, shipping and selling. We 
shall be glad to receive the views of 
any of our subscribers in Florida, and 
will take pleasure in aiding them to 
the fullest extent of our ability. 
FERTILIZERS FOR FRUITS. 
Fashions in farmjproducts change. 
T HERE are undoubtedly many lo¬ 
calities where stable manure is 
more expensive than chemical fertili¬ 
zers. Perhaps the most striking illus¬ 
tration of the truth of this statement 
may be found among the Florida 
orange growers. Here we have a 
country admirably adapted to the 
growth of oranges, but strikingly 
weak in the physical requirements 
that go to make a successful stock¬ 
growing country. The soil is not 
naturally strong—how is it to be fed ? 
It is safe to say that in many locali¬ 
ties, stable manure is out of the ques¬ 
tion, and that chemical fertilizers 
must be used. And the question at once 
arises—what sort of fertilizer shall we 
use ? What element is most necessary 
in orange culture ? In this connection 
the R. N.-Y. wishes to call attention to 
the following extract from a well- 
known orange-grower of Florida. It 
seems to strike at the root of the mat¬ 
ter. 
“ From a somewhat extended ex¬ 
perience as an orange grower I am 
convinced that, taking the whole 
State together, orange-growers are 
applying too little potash to their 
groves. It is 4 the one thing need¬ 
ful ’ in our sandy soils. Nitrogenous 
manures produce a rapid and seem¬ 
ingly vigorous growth, but it is at the 
expense of permanent vigor and vi¬ 
tality in the tree. Fertilizers are too 
often judged only by their immediate 
effects. The fuil penalty of this un¬ 
equal system of fertilization does not 
come perhaps for years, and then the 
trouble is beyond remedy, and the 
unfortunate grove owner who mourns 
T he rural new-york- 
ER is pre-eminently a pa- 
pei^for progressive farmers—for 
those who are ever anxious to 
excel in their calling by improve¬ 
ments in their appliances, seeds, 
live stock and methods. To sat¬ 
isfy this class of patronage, it is 
necessary that the paper itself 
should keep fully abreast of the 
foremost thought, the most ad¬ 
vanced practice and the most 
economical methods of the times, 
at home and abroad, and this has 
been our constant aim and en¬ 
deavor. The contents of the 
present annual volume, now near 
its close, afford our readers am¬ 
ple evidence of the results of our 
efforts during 1889 and a fair in¬ 
dication of what they may expect 
from us in 1890. Like all others 
who are eager to excel, we hope 
to do better in the future than we 
have done in the past; but our 
readers must judge of the former 
by the latter. Each has witnessed 
the play, read the book, eaten 
the cake and has, doubtless, come 
to a conclusion. He is ready to 
say : “I do or I do not want the 
R. N.-Y. for another year.” 
Very naturally, we shall part 
with the latter class, however 
small, with concern, for who can 
help regretting that his earnest 
efforts to please and instruct 
have failed to win approbation ? 
Very naturally, too, our feelings 
for the former class are quite cor¬ 
dial. We look upon them as 
friends. We wish to help them 
all we can; and shall also be 
thankful for a little help from 
every one. 
Fresh subscribers are con¬ 
stantly needed not only to in¬ 
crease but to maintain the circu¬ 
lation of a paper. In addition to 
those who drop off because they 
have some real or imaginary 
fault to find with our work, others 
discontinue their subscriptions 
on account of death, change of 
occupation or location, hard 
times and for other causes. Not 
the least effective way of replac¬ 
ing the names of these on our 
list and of adding others to it, is 
through the kindly influence and 
f ood words of the friends who 
now us, our aims and our labors. 
In other matters as well as in re¬ 
ligion, it is quite natural for good 
people to wish that others should 
adopt what they themselves ap¬ 
prove, and a few words of praise 
in behalf of the R. N.-Y. oppor¬ 
tunely spoken to neighbors of 
similar interests or congenial 
tastes would help us wonderfully, 
and also in their results benefit 
our readers by enabling us still 
further to improve the character 
of the paper. 
In this connection it may be 
repeated that we will gladly send 
one or several specimen copies 
of the R. N.-Y. to any farmers 
whose names our friends may be 
kind enough to favor us with, 
and we shall feel much obliged 
for such lists. Now, just now 
and during the next few weeks 
is, par excellence, the opportune 
time. 
The yearly subscription price 
will remain unchanged, viz., 
$2 for single copies; $1.50 in 
clubs of five or over. TheR. N.-Y. 
clubs with all other respectable 
periodicals and the lowest rates 
will be furnished on application. 
BREVITIES. 
A good month this to breed your cows, 
you folks who want to make winter butter 
On the first of January next the R. N.- 
Y. will commence its 40th year of existence. 
It was born, as Moore’s Rural New-Yorker 
in 1850. 
IN the opinion of the R. N.-Y. there is a 
growing sentiment among the thoughtful, 
conservative citizens of New York that the 
World’s Fair is not wanted here. 
There seems little room for doubt that 
caponizing roosters is growing in practice, 
and the market for good capons grows, too. 
But it’s a cruel practice in spite of all. 
The Parker Earle Strawberry should be 
tried by our Florida subscribers. Its rec¬ 
ord in Texas, its home, gives some evidence 
that it will prove of great value in Florida. 
The cost of a ton of N. Y. City stable 
manure, delivered upon the R, N.-Y. prem¬ 
ises (one mile from the station) is $2.65. 
Twenty five cents are charged for cartage. 
Butter that is too strong and rank to be 
eaten on bread will do to cook with. Why? 
The products that give off the bad odors 
are volatile. The heat of the cooking drives 
them away. 
The R. N.-Y". feels safe in saying that the 
“ Notes on a Back Number ” special will be 
about the liveliest paper we have ever 
printed. It will serve to introduce a good 
many new correspondents. 
The rather strange spectacle of a cat with 
a bad case of sore throat has been seen at 
the Rural farm the past week. The cat 
was cured by applying the remedies gener¬ 
ally used for human beings. 
To learn something about the influence 
of feed on butter, take all grain and hay 
away from the cow and feed her on straw 
and poor hay for a few days. Then try to 
make butter out of her cream. 
It is worthy of notice that for Florida 
the last American Pomological Report does 
not give a star to any variety of blackberry 
except the Lucretia, and to that it gives 
two stars. The Peen-to Peach is given one 
star. 
The question raised on page 820 as to the 
relative profit in keeping 25 liens or a cow 
is an interesting one. The R. N.-Y. will 
obtain some facts that will show how the 
matter stands in various parts of the 
country. 
44 Twelve sweet, Florida oranges 25 
cents.” “ Messina lemons, 80 for 25 cents.” 
“Sweet, Russett Oranges, 16 for 25 cents.” 
“ Sugar Pines, 15 cents ; two foraquarter.” 
“‘Grape Fruit’ five cents,” These are 
signs familiar to every New-Yorker. 
As the year nears its close it is well that 
we should ask ourselves certain questions : 
Are we happier now than a year ago ? Are 
our wives and children haopier ? Is the 
home dearer ? What good have we done; 
what harm ? What are we living for ? 
This is the way a Canadian friend puts 
it: 
“ I am confident that the R. N.-Y. makes 
much more money for me than it costs by 
following its kind advice, and when I pay 
only §2 00 for it per year I consider I am 
quite alot ahead.” 
The next picture of tools will be of those 
used by a Lucas County, Ohio, farmer, who 
says: 11 1 have as good a kit of the latest 
improved machinery as can be found on 
any farm in Ohio—Mr. Terry’s not except¬ 
ed.” We shall be able to decide that when 
the picture is printed. 
The New Jersey State Horticultural 
Society will hold its 15th annual meeting 
in the State House at Trenton on Wednes¬ 
day and Thursday, December 18 and 19. 
The meetings of this society are always in¬ 
teresting and profitable. These Jerseymen 
know what to talk about and what to say. 
Go if you can. 
ONE of our neighbors is eating his cake 
and keeping it too. How ? He sells his 
new-laid eggs at four cents each, and eats 
last spring’s eggs that have been kept in 
salt. These eggs are suitable for cooking. 
It appears that eggs from hens kept in a 
pen away from the roosters keep be tter 
than do fertilized eggs. - 
Prof. A. J. Cook’s statement concerning 
squirrels as rat catchers is being questioned 
by a good many of our readers. We learn 
of a good many instances where the two 
animals live on the same premises in com¬ 
parative harmony. As Dr. Groff points 
out. on page 822, the squirrels are about as 
mischievous as the rats. 
Any of our readers who have used coal 
ashes as a fertilizer or as an improver of light 
soils will oblige us by sending their experi¬ 
ence in the matter. The answers given on 
page 821 to a question relating to this mat¬ 
ter are somewhat of a surprise to the R. 
N.-Y. We should have supposed that the 
ashes would have been best forheavy soils. 
